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IDEOLOGY

Our Ideaology - Nkrumaism

The Nkrumaism is the ideological principle underpinning Nkrumaist political parties, namely CPP, PNC etc. There are three main principles guiding Nkrumaism:

Self-determination: We must abandon our colonial mentality and inferiority complex and re-assert control over our natural resources and national interests for the sustainable and equitable development of our country.Social Justice: The State has a moral and constitutional duty to promote equal opportunity and equitable rewards for all Ghanaians, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic, religious, political or other backgrounds, andPan-Africanism: We must work with Africans at home and abroad to find common solutions to our common problems of racism, poverty, exploitation and under-development.

"...when you talk of Nkrumahism, you mean the name or term given to the consistent ideological policies followed and taught by Kwame Nkrumah. These are contained in his speeches, in his theoretical writings and stated ideas and principles. You also mean that Nkrumahism, in order to be Nkrumah-istic, must be related to scientific socialism. To be successful however, this ideology must:

a) Be all pervading, and while its theories in full can only be developed in and around the Party leadership, it must influence in some form all education and, indeed, all thinking and action;

b) Be not only a statement of aims and principles, but must also provide the intellectual tools by which these aims are achieved, and must concentrate on all constructive thinking around achieving those aims, and;

c) Offer the ordinary man and woman some concrete tangible and realizable hope of better life within his or her lifetime.

With this ideology there should be a full-scale intellectual, educational, and organizational attack on all aspects of colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism. These are not mere words. They are concrete manifestations of a world outlook." --- Kwame Nkrumah, Revolutionary Path, pg. 172.

Pan-African Conferences

With independence, the party was in a position to embark on a practical programme of Pan-Africanism. This involved meaningful support for Africa’s freedom fighters and the taking of effective steps to advance African unity.In 1957, there were only eight independent African states. They were Ghana, Ethiopia, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Liberia and Sudan. Most of the African continent was yet to be liberated. The last Pan-African Congress had been held in Manchester, England in 1945.

The CPP government was determined to reactivate the Pan-African Movement on the soil of Africa its true home. Practical steps were taken.

1. In April 1958 the Conference of African independent States was held in Accra. The eight states agreed to co-ordinate economic planning’, to improve communications’, to exchange cultural and educational information’, to assist liberation movements by providing training and other facilities.

Most important was the adoption of the formula of one man vote as an objective of the liberation movement. This gave the liberation movement direction and cohesion.

2 In December 1958, the All-African people’s Conference was held in Accra. This Conference represented Africa’s freedom fighters, nationalist parties, trade unions, co-operative and youth movement throughout Africa. It was the first time that freedom fighters from British, French, Portuguese, Spanish and racist minority regimes had met together to discuss common problems and to formulate plans. History was made when the Conference endorsed the right of the unliberated to use all methods of struggle, , if non-violent methods to obtain freedom had failed .

At the Conference were Patrice Lumumba, Kenneth, Kenneth Kaunda, Kanyama Chiume, Tom, Mboya, Oginga Odinga, Joshua Nkomo and many others who were to become notable political leaders.

Conference members returned to their countries with a common purpose to liberate their countries. They were inspired as never before, and confident in the CPP governments commitment to the Pan-African struggle. On obtaining independence, they were to follow Ghana’s example in making their territories base areas for freedom fighters. Ghana had become the pace-maker of the Pan-African Movement.

3 Among liberation movements which received aid and training in Ghana during the government of the CPP were:ANC (African National Congress)PAC (Pan- African Congress)ZANU(Zimbabwe African National Union)ZAPU (Popular Africans Peoples Union)MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola.SWAPSO (South West African Peoples OrganisationFRELIMO (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique